Fishing gear is a common source of marine-based litter, which impacts ecosystems, fish stocks and reduces the sustainability of fisheries.
Under the European Green Deal and similar policy directives, European fisheries are set to undergo the transition towards a circular economy. This is where SEARCULAR comes in to help tackle fisheries marine litter and introduce circular economy practices across the fisheries value chain from port to sea. As a result, the project will help support sustainable livelihoods and healthy marine ecosystems.
SEARCULAR’s core objective is the reduction of marine litter and microplastic generated by European fisheries (demersal trawlers, demersal seiners, tropical tuna purse seiners) at source and, in support of this, the introduction of circular economy practices within the fishing sector value chain, including at ports. It seeks to do this by building acceptance of the tried and tested solutions offered by the project, and fostering behavioural change.
To realise this objective, SEARCULAR aims to harness the combined experience, expertise and networks of its consortium members, and together generate effective solutions that pave the way forward for eliminating waste from fishing gears, circulating materials and regenerating nature, with widespread impact. Central to this is co-production of knowledge and solutions with key stakeholders, mediated by the project’s Stakeholder Task Force (STF).
Coordinated by Spanish research institute AZTI, SEARCULAR will be in action across Europe from October 2023 to 2026.
The project involves the collaboration of 13 organisations, including 11 partner organisations, each working together with the project’s Stakeholder Task Force to implement circular solutions for fishing gear.
The Stakeholder Task Force (STF) comprises primary stakeholders (fishing, manufacturers, recyclers, waste managers, NGOs, port authorities, etc.), alongside other key policy and regulatory actors and a corresponding Secretariat. The STF will be integrated into SEARCULAR’s work from an early stage. This co-design approach will ensure that the solutions being advanced by SEARCULAR are in line with end-user (e.g. gear manufacturers, port and fisheries authorities) standards and help identify gates and barriers to facilitating acceptance of and behaviour change towards circular solutions within the fishing industry.
Solutions will be developed and tested jointly, ensuring collective learning is integrated throughout the project’s process and fed into the design of upgraded versions of the solutions. This joint approach with Stakeholder Task Force will support effective uptake among primary stakeholders once the solutions are brought to commercialisation.
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Drawing on our combined experience, expertise and networks, together we are implementing solutions that can minimise waste, meet European policy targets for clean, healthy marine environments and, at the same time, support sustainable fishing fleets and thriving coastal communities.
